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FESTIVAL GOERS CAN kill two birds with one stone at this year’s Electric Picnic and register to vote at a dedicated station set up at the multi-day event in Co Laois.
In an effort to sign up new and young voters ahead of the Presidential election later this year, the Electoral Commission will attend the festival in hopes to register as many people between the ages of 18 and 34 years old as possible.
Electric Picnic attracts throngs of young, eligible unregistered voters each year.
Data from the General Election found that almost 70% of eligible voters in that age bracket, most-likely to attend Electric Picnic, were not registered by polling day last November.
It is time for that to change, according to festival director Melvin Benn, who announced the partnership with An Coimisiún Toghcháin today. CEO of the Commission, Art O’Leary, said it is important that young people do not lose their voice during elections.
Electric Picnic is taking place from 29 to 31 August in Stradbally in Laois and includes acts Hozier, Kings of Leon, Chappell Roan, Kneecap and Fat Boy Slim in the line-up.
The Electoral Commission’s registration centre will be set up at the ‘MindField’ area of the festival, which hosts podcasts, debates, wellbeing events and panel shows.
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Anything that increases the number of those voting is a good thing.
Why would anyone have an issue with this?
@Tricia G28: The same reason certain people oppose extending voting rights to 16 year olds, young people are more likely to vote for change.
@Rochelle Hart: without understanding change
@Rochelle Hart: I don’t think the vote should be extended to 16 year olds -and it’s certain not because they’d vote for change – but think it’s a wonderful idea to get the unregistered signed up to vote.
Excellent idea and initiative.
@Brian: Yes. Well done, the government
Finding new ways to keep them in the Dail as long as possible which smacks of desperation to be touting at a music festival
@Shaun: I don’t think many young voters will be voting for FF or FG
@Shaun: The Electoral Commission are in the Dáil now?
Such a load of Balderdash!!
Next they’ll be giving drinks vouchers or a line of coke to encourage them to vote!!!
Pathetic move!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: why is it pathetic? Afraid your way of thinking will be destroyed at the ballot box, the democratic way?
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: seems like a decent idea to me – the worst that can happen is that nobody bothers to register, but there is a clear upside if significant numbers do. They will have similar initiatives at the Ploughing Champs and on college campuses. We need much more young people to firstly register, and then exercise their vote, and this just may help. If it doesn’t work, hey-ho, try something else
@Kev Kerr: Well, the government could make it mandatory to register and vote!
Will there be if ever required in future polling booths as such gatherings if a snap election was called and how secure would the ballots boxes be as we seen the last general election blue sellotape over a room to store ballots
Sure that’s only pandering to Sinn Fein, as the extremely gullible youth of today are for some strange reason massively attracted to the likes of Sinn Fein, Wolfe Tones, Kneecap etc.
@The Firestarter: Hillarious and ironic bout of Victor Meldrewism from somebody called ” The Firestarter “.
@Brian: You should listen to the Prodigy pal, better than any of that Kneecap rubbish.
@The Firestarter: lol. You’re just veering into Peter Kay territory now.. ” Put a bit of Prodigy on for your mam.. she loves that.. smack your b**ch up .. go on she loves that”.
have your say